Overall, I enjoyed this collection better than "Home Improvement: Undead Edition". There were only a couple stories that I skipped; and they were the ones in which the author used traditional horror tropes and sparkled them up a lot.....sorry, but I am a traditionalist and that cutesy crap about were-folk with pet grindylows just gets my eyeballs a rollin'. Look, if you can't creep me out with your writing, don't try to amuse me instead; if I wanted to be amused I would have picked up a collection of P. G. Wodehouse Jeeves & Bertie stories. ( )

As expected, there were some stories I liked and some I thought about skipping. On the whole, though, it entertained. Favorites, in order of appearance: Sympathy for the Bones by Marjorie M. Liu, Iphigenia in Aulis by Mike Carey, and An Introduction to Jewish Myth and Mysticism by Steve Hockensmith. ( )

Calliope runs Death, Inc. and must master wormholes. Was ok short, abrupt ending after all the drama with the teacher at the start.


Merged review:

Rhys Bowen - Low School
Amy finds herself back in high school, not remembering much and floundering. She made a deal and now she's living with the consequences

Academy Field Trip by Donald Harstad - 3
Very clinical, this is a short that took me two days to finish because I kept walking away from it. No romance here, just a mystery.

An Introduction to Jewish Myth and Mysticism by Steve Hockensmith - 4
Andy visits Karen's ex-abuser and convinces him to leave her alone. Not really what I expected but interesting.

Pirate Dave and the Captain's Ghost by Toni L.P. Kelner -4
She's at a were seminar and becomes stalked by a ghost and attacked.

Spellcaster 2.0 by Jonathan Maberry - 4
College students are working on a program and database to input all known spells, but someone has been hacking and changing some of the spells. Trey is the goto guy for the computer stuff and his experience is interesting.

The Bad Hour by Thomas E. Sniegoski - 4
Remy is a P.I. that was an angel and still retains some of his powers as he uses them to help his client. ( )

* Iphigenia in Aulis *
Only bought this book to read the original M R Carey : Girl with all the Gifts short story. It is also really good, despite being set alternatively in America and having a foetus rights edge to it.
I guess it could have developed into a whole nother story. ****

I did try to read some of the other stories, but struggled to keep up interest. ( )

I picked this up in [b:An Apple for the Creature|13543159|An Apple for the Creature (Kate Daniels, #5.3)|Charlaine Harris|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1334181976s/13543159.jpg|19107455], which is a collection of short stories from multiple authors.

~ 5 Magic Test Stars ~

Magic Test is #5.3 in Ilona Andrews Kate Daniels sereis. I enjoyed a peak into Julie’s mind and life. What a fantastic read! Ilona knows how to pull her fans into the world of Atlanta and it's Magic/Technology.

Magic Test is done from Julie's POV. Ilona does a superb job of explaining how the world works with and without magic. Just like all kids they don’t want to attend school, but must to learn all the things they need to know to get them by in life. It starts with Julie and Kate waiting in the principles office. One of the students is missing and Julie is asked to help. Julie has a feeling that this is a test, but she still goes through with it to help a kid she has never meet. Julie’s magic is exceptional, invaluable and rare. She must keep it a secret. If people found out what she is they would use her. The end is fantastic!

I enjoyed everything about this short story. I love the world created by Ilona and all the characters. She infuses mythology, humor and action, creating a fun-filled short story that is sure to be enjoyed by all. I highly recommend checking out the Kate Daniels series.

**Perviously published in An Apple for the Creature!




Merged review:

I only read Ilona Andrews story Magic Test.

5 Magic Test Stars

Magic Test is #5.3 in Ilona Andrews Kate Daniels sereis. I enjoyed a peak into Julie’s mind and life. What a fantastic read! Ilona knows how to pull her fans into the world of Atlanta and it's Magic/Technology.

Magic Test is done from Julie's POV. Ilona does a superb job of explaining how the world works with and without magic. Just like all kids they don’t want to attend school, but must to learn all the things they need to know to get them by in life. It starts with Julie and Kate waiting in the principles office. One of the students is missing and Julie is asked to help. Julie has a feeling that this is a test, but she still goes through with it to help a kid she has never meet. Julie’s magic is exceptional, invaluable and rare. She must keep it a secret. If people found out what she is they would use her. The end is fantastic!

I enjoyed everything about this short story. I love the world created by Ilona and all the characters. She infuses mythology, humor and action, creating a fun-filled short story that is sure to be enjoyed by all.
I highly recommend checking out the Kate Daniels series.

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